NCAA statistics say Alabama possesses the best defense in college football. The Crimson Tide has allowed the fewest yards overall, the fewest rushing yards and the lowest average per carry (2.46) of 120 FBS teams.

Nick Saban's group also ranks among the nation's top 10 in passing yards allowed, pass efficiency defense and red zone defense while ranking second in scoring defense.

Those numbers bring to mind the old Mark Twain phrase about there being three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics.